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What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
354 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2024
58 people are currently reading
10331 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Orton
8 books469 followersAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DL ORTON lives in the Tropics with her husband, a golden retriever mix, a Siberian cat, and a bazillion geckos.
In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Website:
http://DLOrton.com
Ms Orton is a graduate of Stanford University's Writers Workshop and a past editor of "Top of the Western Staircase," a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
You can email her at dlo at dlorton dot com.
In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Website:
http://DLOrton.com
Ms Orton is a graduate of Stanford University's Writers Workshop and a past editor of "Top of the Western Staircase," a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
You can email her at dlo at dlorton dot com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
May 13, 2025
Hive (Madders of Time #1) by D.L. Orton
3/5 stars
Hive is the start of a new series by D.L. Orton. It's a dystopian and sci-fi novel and the book starts really strong. A lot happens at the start. Diego and Isa are the only ones left in Eden-17. A glass dome where the rich lived while the earth was dying. But now the dome is dying too. They just lost Dave Kirkland and Diego is burying him. Isa is also dying and together with their AI system Madders she comes up with a plan to send Diego back in time and change the course of the earth. Save it before it becomes a barren land. He refuses at first but out of love he goes back into the past. And that is what kickstarts this story.
Then we go back in time and the story picks up with Isabel who's 42 and just got divorced from Kirkland. She meets an older man who reminds her of Diego, but before she can put all the clues together the man has fled and she's alone.
We also follow chapters through Diego's eyes and we also meet Matt and his niece Cassie. They spot an unknown object in the sky that will hit earth. They call Norad but they don't believe them and kinda ignore them at first.
And Isabel is fighting hard to stay in charge of her Bee project. She created artificial bees that will help nature survive. But her ex-husband and co-worker wants to turn it into weapons and get as much money as he can get for it.
The overall storyline is set up nicely. But once it is set up the story drastically slows down and becomes really, really slow. I really expected a story with lots of twists and turns. But like 70 percent is really slow. It's a lot of conversations that don't push the story forward. At the end it picks up a little, but not a lot.
While I was reading the book I knew there would be a sequel. But at the end I saw that this series will be 7 or 8 books and I was like wow. While I was reading this book I was constantly thinking that the next book and maybe even the third should be combined with the first one to create an exciting and fast paced book.
There were a few pages that got me really excited and I couldn't wait to read what would happen next. But there weren't many. And that was such a shame. Because the bones and start really hinted on an epic and grand sci-fi story.
I did enjoy Matt and Cassie's bond and relationship. Matt really is a man that brings out the best in others. And I loved how steadfast and driven Cassie was.
Diego and Isabel have a heartbreaking storyline in the end which tugged at my heartstrings. So the relationships are quite solid!
I also wished that the Diego from the future had a bigger storyline. I wanted to read chapters through his eyes. I wanted to know what he felt when he saw Isabel. I wanted to know how he saw the world change for the better or not. That felt like such a missed opportunity.
The overall writing style is really good. I enjoyed how the author wrote and conveyed emotions through her structure-sentence and use of words.
I just really hope that the pace in the second one will pick up immensely, so that the story can shine and be exciting and impactful. Because I truly believe that the overall blurb of the entire story is magnificent.
So 3 out of 5 stars from me overall.
3/5 stars
Hive is the start of a new series by D.L. Orton. It's a dystopian and sci-fi novel and the book starts really strong. A lot happens at the start. Diego and Isa are the only ones left in Eden-17. A glass dome where the rich lived while the earth was dying. But now the dome is dying too. They just lost Dave Kirkland and Diego is burying him. Isa is also dying and together with their AI system Madders she comes up with a plan to send Diego back in time and change the course of the earth. Save it before it becomes a barren land. He refuses at first but out of love he goes back into the past. And that is what kickstarts this story.
Then we go back in time and the story picks up with Isabel who's 42 and just got divorced from Kirkland. She meets an older man who reminds her of Diego, but before she can put all the clues together the man has fled and she's alone.
We also follow chapters through Diego's eyes and we also meet Matt and his niece Cassie. They spot an unknown object in the sky that will hit earth. They call Norad but they don't believe them and kinda ignore them at first.
And Isabel is fighting hard to stay in charge of her Bee project. She created artificial bees that will help nature survive. But her ex-husband and co-worker wants to turn it into weapons and get as much money as he can get for it.
The overall storyline is set up nicely. But once it is set up the story drastically slows down and becomes really, really slow. I really expected a story with lots of twists and turns. But like 70 percent is really slow. It's a lot of conversations that don't push the story forward. At the end it picks up a little, but not a lot.
While I was reading the book I knew there would be a sequel. But at the end I saw that this series will be 7 or 8 books and I was like wow. While I was reading this book I was constantly thinking that the next book and maybe even the third should be combined with the first one to create an exciting and fast paced book.
There were a few pages that got me really excited and I couldn't wait to read what would happen next. But there weren't many. And that was such a shame. Because the bones and start really hinted on an epic and grand sci-fi story.
I did enjoy Matt and Cassie's bond and relationship. Matt really is a man that brings out the best in others. And I loved how steadfast and driven Cassie was.
Diego and Isabel have a heartbreaking storyline in the end which tugged at my heartstrings. So the relationships are quite solid!
I also wished that the Diego from the future had a bigger storyline. I wanted to read chapters through his eyes. I wanted to know what he felt when he saw Isabel. I wanted to know how he saw the world change for the better or not. That felt like such a missed opportunity.
The overall writing style is really good. I enjoyed how the author wrote and conveyed emotions through her structure-sentence and use of words.
I just really hope that the pace in the second one will pick up immensely, so that the story can shine and be exciting and impactful. Because I truly believe that the overall blurb of the entire story is magnificent.
So 3 out of 5 stars from me overall.
December 10, 2024
I’m a big fan of dystopian literature, though I admit stories with time travel are not my thing. For me, all novels, including fantasy and sci-fi, need to be believable. And because I’m a social scientist that relies on evidence-based research, most of the novels that I’ve read dealing with time travel usually fall well below par. However, I’ve been on the prowl lately for a really good sweep-me-off-my-feet novel, so I decided to give D.L. Orton’s “Hive”—the first book in her Madders of Time series—a try. Up to this point, I’ve never read anything written by the author, but the title and the description really piqued my interest—not to mention the beyond-cool cover.
The very first paragraph gave me the instant rush that I needed:
“…The sodden earth makes a wretched sucking sound each time Diego’s shovel cuts into it. As I watch, he forces the blade deeper and muscles out the lifeless muck. Behind him, a massive wave crashes against the outside wall and, for a few precious seconds, the incessant tapping of the swarm is washed away…”
As the first paragraph reveals, Orton is a really talented writer. This story has a lot of potential, and, if I’m going to be honest, this novel could easily be turned either into a movie or into a long-running series on a streaming platform. However, there are a few issues that the author should consider if she wants this work to go mainstream with **millions** of readers worldwide.
Even though this is an adult novel, it’s extremely heavy on F-bombs and other cuss words. Not content with doing so only in English, Orton also incorporates cuss words in Spanish. Once again, I do NOT have virgin ears; I cuss like a sailor. But that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to litter a novel with them. The same can be said for, “Omigod,” and “Blimey.” The author should try to steer away from base words and instead use her literary skills to find other ways to portray character emotions. Why? Because while it’s easy to say F@$&—anyone can say it—it’s harder to portray those same emotions in alternative words.
A more serious issue for me is the merry-go-round of character POV’s. In both the prologue and in Chapter 1, I quickly became emotionally invested in Isabel Sanborn and her partner Diego using Isabel’s first person POV. Then in Chapter 2, we meet Matthew Hudson, and the chapter is written in his first person POV. Okay. Great. But then in Chapter 3, the author uses the POV of Diego Nadales, the one who travels back in time—which brings us back full circle.
In the first twenty chapters, as the example below illustrates, the author continues to shift POV’s. At first, I thought that there was some consistency in the pattern (e.g., Isabel, Matthew, Diego), but in Chapter 10, that consistency was thrown out of the window.
Prologue: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 1: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 2: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 3: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 4: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 5: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 6: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 7: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 8: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 9: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 10: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 11: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 12: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 13: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 14: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 15: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 16: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 17: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 18: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 19: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 20: Diego Nadales POV
Although the reader can see links in the text between the prologue and all three chapters, overall it seems discombobulated; there was just too much movement between all of the different POV’s. It would have been more concise if, perhaps, if the first person POV remained with the MC Isabel who had time traveled instead AND if she had retained her previous memories. However, I realized that this would have necessitated some changes in the system breaking down. The author could have done this easily—and raised the stakes—by providing life support for the future Diego for an **extremely limited** amount of time. And the author could have ensured this by instead of “giving up” as an already-disabled-and-ready-to-die-and save-the-love-of-her-life MC, Orton could have made Isabel the ONLY one—the heroine—who could,
“…Go back and start the dominoes falling in another direction, a direction away from building microdrones and hiding in biodomes…”
For me, this is what it boils down to in the first three chapters: Who’s the hero? Is it the severely altruistic Isabel or is it the manly Diego? Personally, I want a brilliant, strong heroine who’s not willing to allow herself to die so that her sweetheart can save humanity. I want Isabel—from the prologue to the final chapter—on a mission to save humanity (with ALL chapters using her first person POV) because she’s the ONLY one who can do it.
Instead of Madders’ Log Entries appearing at the beginning of each chapter, why can’t Isabel have log entries? And instead of just plopping the entries down at the top of the chapter, Orton could have had Isabel take her log back in time with her and talk about it in the text, thereby providing much-needed context. The log entries at the beginning of the chapters need to be part of the text rather than as stand-alone items.
Make no mistake about it, Orton is a talented writer. And as far as creativity is concerned, she blows the roof off of the house. However, how the author executed her ideas in this book rattled me to my core. To be honest, the constantly changing POV’s interfered with my reading—and enjoyment of—this manuscript and left me with a persistent nagging question: Who’s the hero?
I received an ARC of “Hive,” by D.L. Orton from NetGalley and Rocky Mountain Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The very first paragraph gave me the instant rush that I needed:
“…The sodden earth makes a wretched sucking sound each time Diego’s shovel cuts into it. As I watch, he forces the blade deeper and muscles out the lifeless muck. Behind him, a massive wave crashes against the outside wall and, for a few precious seconds, the incessant tapping of the swarm is washed away…”
As the first paragraph reveals, Orton is a really talented writer. This story has a lot of potential, and, if I’m going to be honest, this novel could easily be turned either into a movie or into a long-running series on a streaming platform. However, there are a few issues that the author should consider if she wants this work to go mainstream with **millions** of readers worldwide.
Even though this is an adult novel, it’s extremely heavy on F-bombs and other cuss words. Not content with doing so only in English, Orton also incorporates cuss words in Spanish. Once again, I do NOT have virgin ears; I cuss like a sailor. But that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to litter a novel with them. The same can be said for, “Omigod,” and “Blimey.” The author should try to steer away from base words and instead use her literary skills to find other ways to portray character emotions. Why? Because while it’s easy to say F@$&—anyone can say it—it’s harder to portray those same emotions in alternative words.
A more serious issue for me is the merry-go-round of character POV’s. In both the prologue and in Chapter 1, I quickly became emotionally invested in Isabel Sanborn and her partner Diego using Isabel’s first person POV. Then in Chapter 2, we meet Matthew Hudson, and the chapter is written in his first person POV. Okay. Great. But then in Chapter 3, the author uses the POV of Diego Nadales, the one who travels back in time—which brings us back full circle.
In the first twenty chapters, as the example below illustrates, the author continues to shift POV’s. At first, I thought that there was some consistency in the pattern (e.g., Isabel, Matthew, Diego), but in Chapter 10, that consistency was thrown out of the window.
Prologue: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 1: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 2: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 3: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 4: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 5: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 6: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 7: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 8: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 9: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 10: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 11: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 12: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 13: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 14: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 15: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 16: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 17: Diego Nadales POV
Chapter 18: Isabel Sanborn POV
Chapter 19: Matthew Hudson POV
Chapter 20: Diego Nadales POV
Although the reader can see links in the text between the prologue and all three chapters, overall it seems discombobulated; there was just too much movement between all of the different POV’s. It would have been more concise if, perhaps, if the first person POV remained with the MC Isabel who had time traveled instead AND if she had retained her previous memories. However, I realized that this would have necessitated some changes in the system breaking down. The author could have done this easily—and raised the stakes—by providing life support for the future Diego for an **extremely limited** amount of time. And the author could have ensured this by instead of “giving up” as an already-disabled-and-ready-to-die-and save-the-love-of-her-life MC, Orton could have made Isabel the ONLY one—the heroine—who could,
“…Go back and start the dominoes falling in another direction, a direction away from building microdrones and hiding in biodomes…”
For me, this is what it boils down to in the first three chapters: Who’s the hero? Is it the severely altruistic Isabel or is it the manly Diego? Personally, I want a brilliant, strong heroine who’s not willing to allow herself to die so that her sweetheart can save humanity. I want Isabel—from the prologue to the final chapter—on a mission to save humanity (with ALL chapters using her first person POV) because she’s the ONLY one who can do it.
Instead of Madders’ Log Entries appearing at the beginning of each chapter, why can’t Isabel have log entries? And instead of just plopping the entries down at the top of the chapter, Orton could have had Isabel take her log back in time with her and talk about it in the text, thereby providing much-needed context. The log entries at the beginning of the chapters need to be part of the text rather than as stand-alone items.
Make no mistake about it, Orton is a talented writer. And as far as creativity is concerned, she blows the roof off of the house. However, how the author executed her ideas in this book rattled me to my core. To be honest, the constantly changing POV’s interfered with my reading—and enjoyment of—this manuscript and left me with a persistent nagging question: Who’s the hero?
I received an ARC of “Hive,” by D.L. Orton from NetGalley and Rocky Mountain Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 23, 2024
Oh my goodness.
That is all I have to say about this book. I received my copy at 9 am and absolutely devoured it in one day.
This book is an emotional roller coaster to say the very least. I laughed out loud, cried (sobbed actually) and audibly gasped. The author does such a fantastic job at making you completely despise the antagonist. The only thing I’m upset about is waiting to see what happens in the sequel.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen to me!
That is all I have to say about this book. I received my copy at 9 am and absolutely devoured it in one day.
This book is an emotional roller coaster to say the very least. I laughed out loud, cried (sobbed actually) and audibly gasped. The author does such a fantastic job at making you completely despise the antagonist. The only thing I’m upset about is waiting to see what happens in the sequel.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen to me!
May 11, 2025
Hive is a science fiction book set in Orton’s multi-verse which includes characters which were first introduced in her Between Two Evils series but you don’t have to have read that series to enjoy this one (I hadn’t). I was very intrigued about the plot and couldn’t wait to immerse myself into this story. The prologue starts in the future with Isabel and Diego, the last 2 people alive in the biodome deciding that they have to give the world one more chance to survive and so Diego travels back in time to try and change events.
I loved the way the story was formatted, with each chapter in the form of a log entry and with different POVs from Isabel, Diego and Matthew Hudson as they navigate a nuclear attack that almost destroys the world and changes everything. I really liked all of these characters and loved getting to know them through the story. Special mention to Tolstoy and Lucky who are the cutest side kick pets and apparently the best behaved pets in the world! Even though the characters are facing a serious disaster, I love that there is still humour and banter in the novel and I also liked the developing relationship between Isabel and Diego.
There is quite a lot of science language and tech involved in this story and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know what was going on but the author did well to offer detailed descriptions and carefully explain certain scenes to make it very easy to understand and this only increased my enjoyment of the plot. It is quite a fast paced story with lots of drama throughout that made sure I was invested right from the start.
The last 100 pages really steps up the intensity with some exciting action and as soon as I finished I wished I could read book 2 immediately! I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next instalment of the Madders of Time series.
I loved the way the story was formatted, with each chapter in the form of a log entry and with different POVs from Isabel, Diego and Matthew Hudson as they navigate a nuclear attack that almost destroys the world and changes everything. I really liked all of these characters and loved getting to know them through the story. Special mention to Tolstoy and Lucky who are the cutest side kick pets and apparently the best behaved pets in the world! Even though the characters are facing a serious disaster, I love that there is still humour and banter in the novel and I also liked the developing relationship between Isabel and Diego.
There is quite a lot of science language and tech involved in this story and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t know what was going on but the author did well to offer detailed descriptions and carefully explain certain scenes to make it very easy to understand and this only increased my enjoyment of the plot. It is quite a fast paced story with lots of drama throughout that made sure I was invested right from the start.
The last 100 pages really steps up the intensity with some exciting action and as soon as I finished I wished I could read book 2 immediately! I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next instalment of the Madders of Time series.
May 11, 2025
Set in two universes, not too far apart time wise and told from multiple perspectives, this first instalment of the series starts in the future. It is almost the end of the world, a world destroyed as a consequence of the actions of a narcissistic, rich, tech bro. The two remaining humans, Isabelle and Diego, make a decision to send one of them back in time to try to alter events. The rest of the story follows what happens when Diego makes his future changing actions.
Will what he does be enough to change the fate of the world? Could he have done more?
His actions change fate for Isabelle and Diego almost immediately, but what about Dave Kirkland (Isabelle’s ex husband, and previously referenced narcissistic, rich, tech bro) and his mutant killer bee bots? You will just have to read this engrossing, dystopian sci-fi to find out.
The story leads us to think morally and philosophically about time travel and altering history. It also makes you ponder the age old question of how some people (either greedy, power hungry or despotic) can turn anything that is created/invented for the good of the human race and life on Earth into money making ventures, with the potential to harm when misused or adapted. Again, looking at you, Dave!
I enjoyed the cultural references to time travel (flux capacitors anyone?) and passwords, as well as the humour between Matt and Sam when they are held against their will in a military compound to work the science, their way of coping with the stress and lack of information.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this story and cannot wait to read the next part…what a place to pause!
Thank you to D.L. Orton and @The_WriteReads for a physical copy of the book to read and review.
Will what he does be enough to change the fate of the world? Could he have done more?
His actions change fate for Isabelle and Diego almost immediately, but what about Dave Kirkland (Isabelle’s ex husband, and previously referenced narcissistic, rich, tech bro) and his mutant killer bee bots? You will just have to read this engrossing, dystopian sci-fi to find out.
The story leads us to think morally and philosophically about time travel and altering history. It also makes you ponder the age old question of how some people (either greedy, power hungry or despotic) can turn anything that is created/invented for the good of the human race and life on Earth into money making ventures, with the potential to harm when misused or adapted. Again, looking at you, Dave!
I enjoyed the cultural references to time travel (flux capacitors anyone?) and passwords, as well as the humour between Matt and Sam when they are held against their will in a military compound to work the science, their way of coping with the stress and lack of information.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this story and cannot wait to read the next part…what a place to pause!
Thank you to D.L. Orton and @The_WriteReads for a physical copy of the book to read and review.
June 7, 2025
Absolutely enthralling, edge of your seat, end-of-days, high octave, and emotionally wrenching drama! Dystopian Sci fi thrillers are not my go-to genre, but this one had me from page one and held me fast until the final page! The character depth and connection between the dying Isabel , a scientist, and Diego, the man she has loved throughout time, is just beautifully depicted. isabel discovers a space time bridge offering their final chance at rewriting terrible history in the hope of changing their ending. Their love and sacrifices are just captivating. Hive explores the ordinary lives of some ordinary people doing extraordinary things for love and survival. Matthew Hudson, a quantum materials expert and his niece Cassie, are two wonderful characters, too, who have known love and loss and use their skills to determine the extraordinary events they are witnessing. Their relationship is amazing. Hive, Madders of Time in book one in this series by DL Orton. I am excited about what is to come! #hive #hivemaddersoftime #bookone #dlorton #TheWriteReads #booktour
May 17, 2025
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Man, this was a neat read!
I love sci-fi books, but don’t typically go for ones that’s more heavier on the actual science side. However, this was just right on the border of not being too complicated. I did have moments where I was a tad confused and a handful of chapters that I read more than once, especially the early chapters and towards the end. Still, it was a good read that constantly moved along at a good pace, switching between three main POVs of Diego, Isabel, and Matthew.
The world has come to an end, humanity is no more and from what she knows, it’s just Isabel, Diego, and their long dead, but uploaded into a super AI computer, friend Matthew (Madders). Resources are growing thin and she doesn’t anticipate living much longer either and with the book beginning as their other friend, Dave, having just ended his own life, she refuses to let Diego be alone in this bleak and grim future where there is nothing left besides a computer and killer bee drones. Isabel makes up her mind and with some parting words, she uses the last of the remaining power in the dome, shutting down Madders in the process, to perform one final time jump, sending the love of her life back in time to before the first disaster happened.
The rest of the book begins in the present day when Matthew, a professor who, along with his niece, discovers an airborne object headed towards them, foreign and completely baffling. Phoning in this discovery to the authorities ends up having him “arrested” to uncover the truth behind the object, this massive sphere, that eventually hits a hotel, an object whose atomic makeup matches nothing they’ve ever seen in this world. Nobody in this timeline knows, at first, about any of this time traveling deal and current day Isabel and Diego do not know that it is future Isabel who has sent future Diego to the past. Future Diego does make one or two more appearances as an anonymous old man, but we never truly see him again.
The future is in the present day trio’s hands! I love the chapter formatting, the beginning showing a small photo of which POV this chapter belongs to along with Madder’s updates. Madders of the future is capable of comparing present day events against the “virgin timeline[s]” to see how much or little we are deviating along with effects, whether or not the world is headed away from the barren future and if any of what Isabel, Diego, and Matthew are doing is working. Not that they know of course. In the present day, Matthew, kidnapped by the government, is roped in to study the sphere while Diego and Isabel uncover their own clues about possible time travel, their only main hint are vague notes from future selves to “Stop Dave.”
Overall, it was an intriguing read. The pacing was well done. The characters are in depth, and I would love to know more of them. I know that this book exists in the same “realm” as another series featuring the same characters so there’s definitely a place we can go to to explore more. I absolutely hated one of the agents though (rightfully nicknamed by Matthew as “Dick”) because he was the single most infuriating human I’ve met. Frankly, I could do without him, he was simply a “dick” and never more. It felt like he contributed 0% to the efforts of others besides cutting them off, constantly threatening to jail Matthew, power trippy, jumping to conclusions, ugh. He serves as the “harsh authority” character but just comes off as too much and too hard, a caricature almost. His junior officer is 100x more tolerable.
The ending leaves on a cliffhanger too. World events progress rather quickly, Isabel having sent Diego back to only just before the first disaster doesn’t give the cast a lot of time to change things. It's not instantaneous of course, Madder’s “chrono tags” at the beginning of the chapters range anywhere from “that night” to weeks or more. After all, when you are faced with the kind of science you only see in movies, trying to solve a puzzle that you didn’t know existed in the first place means the deadline looms fast and quick and I certainly felt the urgency of the matter. I didn’t love the ending, I’ve never been one to love cliffhangers, but it makes me want to dive into the next book. A solid start, but will certainly have to check out the author’s other books!
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Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. This does not impact the review and all opinions are my own.
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Man, this was a neat read!
I love sci-fi books, but don’t typically go for ones that’s more heavier on the actual science side. However, this was just right on the border of not being too complicated. I did have moments where I was a tad confused and a handful of chapters that I read more than once, especially the early chapters and towards the end. Still, it was a good read that constantly moved along at a good pace, switching between three main POVs of Diego, Isabel, and Matthew.
The world has come to an end, humanity is no more and from what she knows, it’s just Isabel, Diego, and their long dead, but uploaded into a super AI computer, friend Matthew (Madders). Resources are growing thin and she doesn’t anticipate living much longer either and with the book beginning as their other friend, Dave, having just ended his own life, she refuses to let Diego be alone in this bleak and grim future where there is nothing left besides a computer and killer bee drones. Isabel makes up her mind and with some parting words, she uses the last of the remaining power in the dome, shutting down Madders in the process, to perform one final time jump, sending the love of her life back in time to before the first disaster happened.
The rest of the book begins in the present day when Matthew, a professor who, along with his niece, discovers an airborne object headed towards them, foreign and completely baffling. Phoning in this discovery to the authorities ends up having him “arrested” to uncover the truth behind the object, this massive sphere, that eventually hits a hotel, an object whose atomic makeup matches nothing they’ve ever seen in this world. Nobody in this timeline knows, at first, about any of this time traveling deal and current day Isabel and Diego do not know that it is future Isabel who has sent future Diego to the past. Future Diego does make one or two more appearances as an anonymous old man, but we never truly see him again.
The future is in the present day trio’s hands! I love the chapter formatting, the beginning showing a small photo of which POV this chapter belongs to along with Madder’s updates. Madders of the future is capable of comparing present day events against the “virgin timeline[s]” to see how much or little we are deviating along with effects, whether or not the world is headed away from the barren future and if any of what Isabel, Diego, and Matthew are doing is working. Not that they know of course. In the present day, Matthew, kidnapped by the government, is roped in to study the sphere while Diego and Isabel uncover their own clues about possible time travel, their only main hint are vague notes from future selves to “Stop Dave.”
Overall, it was an intriguing read. The pacing was well done. The characters are in depth, and I would love to know more of them. I know that this book exists in the same “realm” as another series featuring the same characters so there’s definitely a place we can go to to explore more. I absolutely hated one of the agents though (rightfully nicknamed by Matthew as “Dick”) because he was the single most infuriating human I’ve met. Frankly, I could do without him, he was simply a “dick” and never more. It felt like he contributed 0% to the efforts of others besides cutting them off, constantly threatening to jail Matthew, power trippy, jumping to conclusions, ugh. He serves as the “harsh authority” character but just comes off as too much and too hard, a caricature almost. His junior officer is 100x more tolerable.
The ending leaves on a cliffhanger too. World events progress rather quickly, Isabel having sent Diego back to only just before the first disaster doesn’t give the cast a lot of time to change things. It's not instantaneous of course, Madder’s “chrono tags” at the beginning of the chapters range anywhere from “that night” to weeks or more. After all, when you are faced with the kind of science you only see in movies, trying to solve a puzzle that you didn’t know existed in the first place means the deadline looms fast and quick and I certainly felt the urgency of the matter. I didn’t love the ending, I’ve never been one to love cliffhangers, but it makes me want to dive into the next book. A solid start, but will certainly have to check out the author’s other books!
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Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. This does not impact the review and all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
Thanks to TheWriteReads for the gifted copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Oh what a beautiful hardback cover this had - if you remove the dust jacket, it's just such a beautiful piece of art.
I am generally not a sci-fi book reader. I mean, I do read them, and some I have enjoyed, but generally it's not a genre I gravitate towards, but I'm always up for trying new books. But this is not just sci-fi. There's comedy, romance, adventure. It's a dystopian future that sadly looks all too possible.
I'd not heard of DL Orton before or her work but I am definitely going to keep my eye out for it.
I love how the characters all have little images of them in the book, showing which chapter or log belongs to whom. It just adds another layer of depth because we get to see what the characters should look like, and I really liked that.
Surprisingly, I found it to be quite funny. There's something about reaching rock bottom that brings out an awkward sense of humour, which I enjoyed.
I mean, it's not the easiest book to read because it's very technical and I'm not used to reading that kind of language, but it doesn't hamper the enjoyment of the book. And yet having said it's quite technical, I did zoom through it, in less than a day, because it was so addictive. I'm actually annoyed I read it so quickly because I was fully absorbed in it and I don't want to have to wait to find out what happens next.
I'm not going to pretend to know if the science and technology and whatnot is correct or not but it sure does sound convincing.
It's not my normal genre but I thought I'd give it a go, what's the worse that could happen, and I actually really thoroughly enjoyed it, and so whilst I'm not sure it'll be my top genre, I will definitely be keeping an open mind for others.
I believe this is book one in a planned series and I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to continuing this story. I have really, surprisingly, loved it.
Oh what a beautiful hardback cover this had - if you remove the dust jacket, it's just such a beautiful piece of art.
I am generally not a sci-fi book reader. I mean, I do read them, and some I have enjoyed, but generally it's not a genre I gravitate towards, but I'm always up for trying new books. But this is not just sci-fi. There's comedy, romance, adventure. It's a dystopian future that sadly looks all too possible.
I'd not heard of DL Orton before or her work but I am definitely going to keep my eye out for it.
I love how the characters all have little images of them in the book, showing which chapter or log belongs to whom. It just adds another layer of depth because we get to see what the characters should look like, and I really liked that.
Surprisingly, I found it to be quite funny. There's something about reaching rock bottom that brings out an awkward sense of humour, which I enjoyed.
I mean, it's not the easiest book to read because it's very technical and I'm not used to reading that kind of language, but it doesn't hamper the enjoyment of the book. And yet having said it's quite technical, I did zoom through it, in less than a day, because it was so addictive. I'm actually annoyed I read it so quickly because I was fully absorbed in it and I don't want to have to wait to find out what happens next.
I'm not going to pretend to know if the science and technology and whatnot is correct or not but it sure does sound convincing.
It's not my normal genre but I thought I'd give it a go, what's the worse that could happen, and I actually really thoroughly enjoyed it, and so whilst I'm not sure it'll be my top genre, I will definitely be keeping an open mind for others.
I believe this is book one in a planned series and I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to continuing this story. I have really, surprisingly, loved it.
May 12, 2025
Hive: Madders of Time (Book 1) by D.L. Orton is an enthralling dystopian sci-fi that draws you in with high-stakes drama, futuristic technology and characters that you become absolutely invested in and can’t help but root for. From the very beginning, you are brought right into a world on the brink – time is running out and every feeling is tangible; it’s dangerous, desperate and all too believable.
What really stood out for me was the emotional depth. If I can physically feel the emotions in a book, I am immediately in the narrative and following right alongside all of the action. The characters are vivid, flawed and are woven together in a way that each choice feels meaningful and the romantic, familial and adversarial relationships explored add a richness to the narrative.
The sci-fi elements are incredibly smart and thought-provoking, with cultural references added which add a sense of nostalgia as well! While I am not science-savvy at all, I appreciated the way that Orton grounded the tech and theories in real-world stakes and linked it back to more familiar territory. There were a few moments where the pace slipped a bit for me, but I think this is more than likely due to getting lost in the more theoretical and scientific details, but that is more to do with my knowledge base than the book itself!
Overall, Hive is a brilliant read – intelligent, intense, and emotionally in-depth. If you are looking for a dystopian sci-fi read with heart and brains to match (with some complex scientific matters), I would definitely recommend this read! I am definitely interested in continuing this series!
What really stood out for me was the emotional depth. If I can physically feel the emotions in a book, I am immediately in the narrative and following right alongside all of the action. The characters are vivid, flawed and are woven together in a way that each choice feels meaningful and the romantic, familial and adversarial relationships explored add a richness to the narrative.
The sci-fi elements are incredibly smart and thought-provoking, with cultural references added which add a sense of nostalgia as well! While I am not science-savvy at all, I appreciated the way that Orton grounded the tech and theories in real-world stakes and linked it back to more familiar territory. There were a few moments where the pace slipped a bit for me, but I think this is more than likely due to getting lost in the more theoretical and scientific details, but that is more to do with my knowledge base than the book itself!
Overall, Hive is a brilliant read – intelligent, intense, and emotionally in-depth. If you are looking for a dystopian sci-fi read with heart and brains to match (with some complex scientific matters), I would definitely recommend this read! I am definitely interested in continuing this series!
November 26, 2024
This book was a wild ride that was difficult to put down. As soon as I was done, I realized I was going to have to wait a year for the sequel. The microdrones are supposed to save the earth, but the best-laid plans of scientists and entrepreneurs go very wrong. The final act of the survivors leads to an unexpected consequence with a timeline shift. I am anxious to see the direction the author takes the characters in the next book. One thing is very clear, this book should be adapted for television.
May 17, 2025
Hive is the exhilarating first book in D.L. Orton’s new Madders of Time series, and it wastes no time diving into high-stakes dystopian sci-fi. Set in a world on the brink of total collapse, Orton delivers a deeply human story packed with time travel, moral quandaries, government conspiracies, and the emotional weight of trying to undo the inevitable.
The novel opens with Diego and Isa—seemingly the last two people alive in Eden-17, a glass-domed refuge where the wealthy once took shelter as the Earth succumbed to ruin. But now, even the dome is dying. With Isa’s health rapidly declining and their AI companion Madders growing desperate, they hatch a last-ditch plan: send Diego back in time to try and change everything.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
The novel opens with Diego and Isa—seemingly the last two people alive in Eden-17, a glass-domed refuge where the wealthy once took shelter as the Earth succumbed to ruin. But now, even the dome is dying. With Isa’s health rapidly declining and their AI companion Madders growing desperate, they hatch a last-ditch plan: send Diego back in time to try and change everything.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
May 16, 2025
Diego and Isabel are the only two humans left on Earth, living inside a protective glass dome that once housed rich people as the Earth died. Now Isa and the dome are dying as well. Diego is sent back in time to try to save the Earth and change history. The story is told from multiple points of view that helped the reader understand the importance of each character in the story. I would’ve liked to have seen more a future Diego when he went back in time though. I think this would have added more interest. Overall, the story was well written, flowed quite well and had a good storyline. I felt this was a promising start to this new series.
May 17, 2025
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S HIVE ABOUT?
We open on a semi-functional (less so by the day) biodome some 30 years in the future (it's vague, but safe to put it in the 2040s-2060s largely depending from when the reader picks this up)—there are two living humans, and an AI of sorts trying to keep going. There are some other biodomes out there, and hopefully, they're doing better. The land outside the biodome is not fit to sustain human life—or much in the way of animal or vegetable life, either.
They have enough energy to use a spacetime bridge one more time as a last-ditch effort to go back and stop things from getting to this point. The target day was a fateful day for the two of them as individuals, and apparently one for the timeline as well (probably for different reasons, I'm not suggesting history pivots on them). They can send one person back with the sole idea of preventing their present.
I'm being as vague on details as the characters are here—you'll get an idea about the particulars later.
We spend the rest of the book watching how this plays out from the point of view of some pivotal individuals (earlier versions of these characters in one way or another), with some observations from that AI about how well it's working and the chances their mission holds of success.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE COLORS
Our primary characters (in the 2010s-2030s) are Matthew, Diego, and Isabel. Matthew and Diego did some work together in the past, and have some loose connections in the book's "present"—but they're not great pals or anything, and their stories don't intertwine much (in Hive, anyway—I expect that to change). Matthew is a physicist of some repute and his expertise will be important.
When we meet Isabel, her divorce has just been finalized and she is excited and free from her husband (well, as free as you can be from an egomanical technocrat that you happen to work for and who owns your research). Diego is the would-be do-gooder scientist/entrepreneur who's trying to do his part to help poorer countries with their water supply. Diego is also the one who got away, for Isabel. Through some unlikely coincidences (probably shaped by their future selves), they reconnect and try to start over/make up for lost time.
Also, they've received prompting from future-Isabel to stop Dave. It's unclear what they're supposed to stop him from doing, but they're all in.
Dave is the kind of character that the reader is primed and ready to hate, or at least really dislike, from his first line of dialogue—and your impression of him goes downhill from there. There are a few sycophants in his company that we don't get to know too well, but their devotion to him really solidifies your impression of them.
Meanwhile, Matthew is pretty much kidnapped by a couple of representatives of the U.S. government to work on a mysterious artifact, presumably (to the reader) something sent back to the past from the biodome. The senior member of this pair is easily as dislikable as Dave—almost irrationally so. And while he might be one of the "good guys," or at least is working to help people, he's definitely one of those envisioned by the coiners of the phrase, "Who needs enemies with friends like this?"
I'm focusing on these two here to be efficient—other than these two jackwagons, 99% of the rest of the characters (from very minor on up) are kind, pleasant, smart (if not brilliant), and are working to improve things. They're the kinds of characters you want to spend time with—they've got good senses of humor, are optimistic and determined to keep going. Reading about them while there's some sort of apocalypse around them is actually pleasant. Even if only you and the AI knew how bad things were going to get for them, you would like their chances and be pleased every time the AI mentioned their chances of improving their chances of success.
A FOCUSED ARMAGEDDON
It's hard to judge the scope of this/these calamity/calamities—our view is of Denver and the surrounding area. We get some hints that conditions are the same in other parts of the country as things get worse. But we really don't know what things are like outside the U.S.
Given how bad it is 30+ years into the future when we first see things, it makes sense to think this happened globally. But it's also possible that the devastation was limited to North America (or just the U.S.) and the rest of the world was able to protect itself, or weren't exposed to the effects. During the bulk of our time with Diego and Isabel, some forms of communication work and some don't for them, so it's believable that they just have no clue what's happening outside of Colorado. Communications around Matthew seem a lot more reliable, but he's kept so much in the dark that it really doesn't get the reader anywhere.
I'm not sure how much it matters for the story—particularly at this point. But I think it's fun to speculate about while you're reading and afterwards. Has the rest of the world moved on, fairly intact, waiting for things to calm down in North America so they can come over and try to rebuild? Or are they, so far removed from the three events, suffering just as much?
CROSSING IN TIME
Feel free to skip this part and move on—I'm not sure this adds much to the overall post, but I can't stop thinking about this.
This is a reworked version of Orton's novel Crossing in Time. I listened to that book back in 2021 and enjoyed it—try as I might not to, I inevitably kept what was different about this version. The little voice in the back of my head just wouldn't shut up. To make things worse—I think I have some details of Crossing in Time conflated with one or more other time travel books involving a strong love story.*
What I think she did here was lop off some later chapters, I assume to move them to Book Two. And introduce and/or beef up some of the chapters and subplots. I'm more sure about the former than the latter, if I'm right, that makes the ending more of a cliff-hanger that will springboard you into wanting Book Two in your hands straightaway.
I also think Orton removed what could be described as convolutions—making the novel more streamlined and fast-paced. Overall, I get her choices, and I do think it makes the book a stronger read.
But again, I could be wrong—but I couldn't stop thinking about it as I read the book, or as I think about it now—so I had to get this out.
* With apologies to the author, there have been 800 or so books between now and then, details get fuzzy.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HIVE?
This is a fast-paced, propulsive read filled with amiable characters who aren't afraid to joke around even when things are tense or confusing. The hook gets set pretty early, and the pages melt away as you plunge ahead to follow the events. It's exactly the kind of popcorn read that helps you escape after a long day.
The tech is very cool—both the stuff that Isabel developed and the items that Matthew talks about and develops. Orton gives you enough to understand how it all works and to visualize it clearly without bogging down the pace with paragraphs and paragraphs of details. The plausibility of it all? Eh, it's SF, it's plausible enough if you come with a standard level of suspension of disbelief needed for time travel (especially, in this case, when the time travel comes with a side order of multiverse story).
Because of the pacing, Orton's able to get away with a few things that maybe she couldn't in a slower-moving book. I don't actually see the grounding of the romance between Diego and Isabel—he's carried a torch for years, she regrets making the choice years ago to walk away. But...that's it. We don't see many sparks, just have to take it because we're told that. There's no reason for the senior agent involved with Matthew to be such an ass to everyone, all the time, especially when just a sentence from him now and then would be enough to get people to work with him instead of his threats (and I don't care how instinctive and characteristic his brusqueness is, you don't move up in an organization simply be being mule-headed, there has to be at least an insincere level of cooperativeness expressed occasionally). All the depth of the characters that could be brought out are merely nodded to, or you have to assume them.
Actually, this all might be necessary because of her pacing. If so, I understand the choice (as much as I disagree with it).
I want to stress, however, in the moment, you don't think about this (and if you do, you brush it off because you don't want to step out of the movement). Everything works, everything clicks while you're reading and speeding off to the next twist/revelation. It's only after you get to the ending that leaves you holding onto the cliff's edge with your fingers that this might occur to you if you stop and think about it. Mostly, you're going to be thinking about how long it will be until you can get your hands on Book Two.
It's easily enjoyable, engrossing, and entertaining. You should give it a try.
My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided, including the ARC.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S HIVE ABOUT?
We open on a semi-functional (less so by the day) biodome some 30 years in the future (it's vague, but safe to put it in the 2040s-2060s largely depending from when the reader picks this up)—there are two living humans, and an AI of sorts trying to keep going. There are some other biodomes out there, and hopefully, they're doing better. The land outside the biodome is not fit to sustain human life—or much in the way of animal or vegetable life, either.
They have enough energy to use a spacetime bridge one more time as a last-ditch effort to go back and stop things from getting to this point. The target day was a fateful day for the two of them as individuals, and apparently one for the timeline as well (probably for different reasons, I'm not suggesting history pivots on them). They can send one person back with the sole idea of preventing their present.
I'm being as vague on details as the characters are here—you'll get an idea about the particulars later.
We spend the rest of the book watching how this plays out from the point of view of some pivotal individuals (earlier versions of these characters in one way or another), with some observations from that AI about how well it's working and the chances their mission holds of success.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE COLORS
Our primary characters (in the 2010s-2030s) are Matthew, Diego, and Isabel. Matthew and Diego did some work together in the past, and have some loose connections in the book's "present"—but they're not great pals or anything, and their stories don't intertwine much (in Hive, anyway—I expect that to change). Matthew is a physicist of some repute and his expertise will be important.
When we meet Isabel, her divorce has just been finalized and she is excited and free from her husband (well, as free as you can be from an egomanical technocrat that you happen to work for and who owns your research). Diego is the would-be do-gooder scientist/entrepreneur who's trying to do his part to help poorer countries with their water supply. Diego is also the one who got away, for Isabel. Through some unlikely coincidences (probably shaped by their future selves), they reconnect and try to start over/make up for lost time.
Also, they've received prompting from future-Isabel to stop Dave. It's unclear what they're supposed to stop him from doing, but they're all in.
Dave is the kind of character that the reader is primed and ready to hate, or at least really dislike, from his first line of dialogue—and your impression of him goes downhill from there. There are a few sycophants in his company that we don't get to know too well, but their devotion to him really solidifies your impression of them.
Meanwhile, Matthew is pretty much kidnapped by a couple of representatives of the U.S. government to work on a mysterious artifact, presumably (to the reader) something sent back to the past from the biodome. The senior member of this pair is easily as dislikable as Dave—almost irrationally so. And while he might be one of the "good guys," or at least is working to help people, he's definitely one of those envisioned by the coiners of the phrase, "Who needs enemies with friends like this?"
I'm focusing on these two here to be efficient—other than these two jackwagons, 99% of the rest of the characters (from very minor on up) are kind, pleasant, smart (if not brilliant), and are working to improve things. They're the kinds of characters you want to spend time with—they've got good senses of humor, are optimistic and determined to keep going. Reading about them while there's some sort of apocalypse around them is actually pleasant. Even if only you and the AI knew how bad things were going to get for them, you would like their chances and be pleased every time the AI mentioned their chances of improving their chances of success.
A FOCUSED ARMAGEDDON
It's hard to judge the scope of this/these calamity/calamities—our view is of Denver and the surrounding area. We get some hints that conditions are the same in other parts of the country as things get worse. But we really don't know what things are like outside the U.S.
Given how bad it is 30+ years into the future when we first see things, it makes sense to think this happened globally. But it's also possible that the devastation was limited to North America (or just the U.S.) and the rest of the world was able to protect itself, or weren't exposed to the effects. During the bulk of our time with Diego and Isabel, some forms of communication work and some don't for them, so it's believable that they just have no clue what's happening outside of Colorado. Communications around Matthew seem a lot more reliable, but he's kept so much in the dark that it really doesn't get the reader anywhere.
I'm not sure how much it matters for the story—particularly at this point. But I think it's fun to speculate about while you're reading and afterwards. Has the rest of the world moved on, fairly intact, waiting for things to calm down in North America so they can come over and try to rebuild? Or are they, so far removed from the three events, suffering just as much?
CROSSING IN TIME
Feel free to skip this part and move on—I'm not sure this adds much to the overall post, but I can't stop thinking about this.
This is a reworked version of Orton's novel Crossing in Time. I listened to that book back in 2021 and enjoyed it—try as I might not to, I inevitably kept what was different about this version. The little voice in the back of my head just wouldn't shut up. To make things worse—I think I have some details of Crossing in Time conflated with one or more other time travel books involving a strong love story.*
What I think she did here was lop off some later chapters, I assume to move them to Book Two. And introduce and/or beef up some of the chapters and subplots. I'm more sure about the former than the latter, if I'm right, that makes the ending more of a cliff-hanger that will springboard you into wanting Book Two in your hands straightaway.
I also think Orton removed what could be described as convolutions—making the novel more streamlined and fast-paced. Overall, I get her choices, and I do think it makes the book a stronger read.
But again, I could be wrong—but I couldn't stop thinking about it as I read the book, or as I think about it now—so I had to get this out.
* With apologies to the author, there have been 800 or so books between now and then, details get fuzzy.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HIVE?
This is a fast-paced, propulsive read filled with amiable characters who aren't afraid to joke around even when things are tense or confusing. The hook gets set pretty early, and the pages melt away as you plunge ahead to follow the events. It's exactly the kind of popcorn read that helps you escape after a long day.
The tech is very cool—both the stuff that Isabel developed and the items that Matthew talks about and develops. Orton gives you enough to understand how it all works and to visualize it clearly without bogging down the pace with paragraphs and paragraphs of details. The plausibility of it all? Eh, it's SF, it's plausible enough if you come with a standard level of suspension of disbelief needed for time travel (especially, in this case, when the time travel comes with a side order of multiverse story).
Because of the pacing, Orton's able to get away with a few things that maybe she couldn't in a slower-moving book. I don't actually see the grounding of the romance between Diego and Isabel—he's carried a torch for years, she regrets making the choice years ago to walk away. But...that's it. We don't see many sparks, just have to take it because we're told that. There's no reason for the senior agent involved with Matthew to be such an ass to everyone, all the time, especially when just a sentence from him now and then would be enough to get people to work with him instead of his threats (and I don't care how instinctive and characteristic his brusqueness is, you don't move up in an organization simply be being mule-headed, there has to be at least an insincere level of cooperativeness expressed occasionally). All the depth of the characters that could be brought out are merely nodded to, or you have to assume them.
Actually, this all might be necessary because of her pacing. If so, I understand the choice (as much as I disagree with it).
I want to stress, however, in the moment, you don't think about this (and if you do, you brush it off because you don't want to step out of the movement). Everything works, everything clicks while you're reading and speeding off to the next twist/revelation. It's only after you get to the ending that leaves you holding onto the cliff's edge with your fingers that this might occur to you if you stop and think about it. Mostly, you're going to be thinking about how long it will be until you can get your hands on Book Two.
It's easily enjoyable, engrossing, and entertaining. You should give it a try.
My thanks to The Write Reads for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided, including the ARC.
February 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this Si-fi novel. Lots of drama, romance, intrigue and pathos. A bit confusing at first but I figured that out. Love Diego and Iz, they are well drawn characters and Dave makes a great villain. It will be hard to wait until November for the next book in the series. Thanks to the author for this advanced copy.
May 15, 2025
Hive is book one in the Madders of Time series, and is a dystopian sci-fi fantasy thriller in which we follow humanity’s last remaining survivors, in a disintegrating biodome on the brink of collapse. The inhabitants are just about clinging to life, but their time is running out. Enter Isabelle, who, will the help of an equivocal AI named Madders, sends one of the other inhabitants, and love of her life, Diego, 35 years into the past. His mission, to prevent the catastrophic collapse of their world? But will he succeed? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So first, let's talk about the cover. It's a great spacey image, mysterious and vivid. Guaranteed to leap out on any shelf. And how about the inside cover? It really is absolutely stunning, one of the best I've seen in quite some time.
So all in all, this was a real rollercoaster of emotions. You'll laugh, you might cry, you'll be surprised, you'll be astonished and in awe.
It's well paced, and for, me, is somewhat of a slow burn, but that's certainly not a negative.
The story is intelligent, and is sure to captivate and pull you in. There's tension, there's some very human moments, there's love and sacrifice.
Can't wait to read book two and I hope @thewritereads tours it as I'll be jumping to sign up.
One of my favourite reads of the year which I'm sure will end up in my top 10 of 2025.
A huge 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
So first, let's talk about the cover. It's a great spacey image, mysterious and vivid. Guaranteed to leap out on any shelf. And how about the inside cover? It really is absolutely stunning, one of the best I've seen in quite some time.
So all in all, this was a real rollercoaster of emotions. You'll laugh, you might cry, you'll be surprised, you'll be astonished and in awe.
It's well paced, and for, me, is somewhat of a slow burn, but that's certainly not a negative.
The story is intelligent, and is sure to captivate and pull you in. There's tension, there's some very human moments, there's love and sacrifice.
Can't wait to read book two and I hope @thewritereads tours it as I'll be jumping to sign up.
One of my favourite reads of the year which I'm sure will end up in my top 10 of 2025.
A huge 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
June 13, 2025
Blurb
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
About the Author
The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, D. L. ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).
When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
My Review
I recieved this beautiful hard back copy as part of the write reads book tour. I would be lying if I said I didnt pick the book partly on the cover.
I like a bit of science fiction but tend to watch it rather than read it but recently I have read a few science fictions and really enjoying them.
I have never read any of the authors books before but I definitely will be. I have read that some of the characters are featured in her earlier work and I like that little feature. Apparently their characters have slightly shifted in this series and I like the characters in Hive so I'm intrigued to see if I would like them in other series.
You start in Eden-17 biodome in the future where the world is riddled with micro drones, Satellite makes a hard decision to send deigo back in time to try and prevent and stop the collapse of the world. He must navigate the past and relationships without destroying everything. There's love, humour, support, and warmth that are all provided from the characters in this book.
There's a huge element of sci-fi and modern love. They didn't lie when they said you would keep turning the pages. I found it hard to put down. I love the entry log style and flickering between the different characters' narratives. It kept the story flowing and moving. I particularly like Madders' entries filled with humour and science.
I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone I know.
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
About the Author
The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, D. L. ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).
When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
My Review
I recieved this beautiful hard back copy as part of the write reads book tour. I would be lying if I said I didnt pick the book partly on the cover.
I like a bit of science fiction but tend to watch it rather than read it but recently I have read a few science fictions and really enjoying them.
I have never read any of the authors books before but I definitely will be. I have read that some of the characters are featured in her earlier work and I like that little feature. Apparently their characters have slightly shifted in this series and I like the characters in Hive so I'm intrigued to see if I would like them in other series.
You start in Eden-17 biodome in the future where the world is riddled with micro drones, Satellite makes a hard decision to send deigo back in time to try and prevent and stop the collapse of the world. He must navigate the past and relationships without destroying everything. There's love, humour, support, and warmth that are all provided from the characters in this book.
There's a huge element of sci-fi and modern love. They didn't lie when they said you would keep turning the pages. I found it hard to put down. I love the entry log style and flickering between the different characters' narratives. It kept the story flowing and moving. I particularly like Madders' entries filled with humour and science.
I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone I know.
May 22, 2025
Having just reread the blurb as I typed it out, I’ve realised why this book was nothing close to what I expected: that blurb only covers the prologue of the book. In actual fact, I’d go with something more like this:
Slowly withering inside Earth’s last biodome, Eden-17, Isabel and Diego have clung to survival for decades. But now, faced with absolute isolation and a slow death, their only hope is to send Diego back in time with the prayer that they can change the course of history.
Fourty-one years into the past, Diego manages to set in motion a chain of events that affect his and Isabel’s younger selves, as well as the brilliant Dr Matthew Hudson – but will it be enough to avoid the calamity that befell the Earth?
The vast majority of the novel is set in the past, following the characters as they navigate through a climate crisis and natural disasters that threaten to ravage the Earth. One plotline follows younger Isabel and Diego, reacquainted after years apart, dealing with the fallout from Isa’s previous marriage and her – frankly horrendous – ex-husband. The other follows Dr Matthew Hudson, who is essentially kidnapped by the government to look into the temporal anomalies caused by Diego’s time travel in the first place.
It took me a while to get into this novel, but I’m going to chalk that up to the fact that I don’t really do sci-fi. Given the choice, I’ll always go for fantasy (which is lowkey what I thought this book was, but that’s my bad for not reading properly), however, I think that Hive might have gone some way to change my mind on that because boy was I enjoying myself by the end.
I really fell in love with all the characters – particularly Matthew Hudson – and I feel like the author’s love for them really bleeds through into the writing. There’s a stand-out scene with Hudson’s niece, Cassandra, that had me grinning because fuck yes, what a badass. All of these characters felt like real people you might meet on the street, and I really appreciated that they felt well-rounded. (A note though – I cannot tell if Hudson is supposed to be British or Australian based on his speech patterns. As a brit, we do not say ‘crikey’ with that frequency.)
I very much enjoyed the start of each chapter letting us know where/how we were diverging from the original timeline. That information is what made the book, in my opinion – without it, we’d be in the dark about whether or not their plan had worked! There were a couple of reasonably big time jumps (a month or so), but I��m not particularly pressed about them as it made sense for the pacing of the story, especially when it’s about global disasters?
For a book about such a depressing topic – and genuinely, halfway through, I audibly went ‘Jesus, why am I reading this?’ – it’s heartfelt. The chapters with Matthew and his post-doc, Sam, in particular made me snort whilst I was reading, and I enjoyed the humanity with which the themes were explored. It’s a masterclass in the old adage of if you’re writing about big themes, you focus in on the details. The part where Diego has to drive past a mother and her child, whilst mumbling ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’? That’s how you show humanity.
I’d absolutely read the sequel, once it releases, but I’m so perplexed by the end of the book which shows Orton’s other works. There are three novels pointing…backwards? At this series? So I’m assuming they’re to do with this storyline, but perhaps in a different universe? I’m absolutely fascinated by the concept. Stay tuned.
Slowly withering inside Earth’s last biodome, Eden-17, Isabel and Diego have clung to survival for decades. But now, faced with absolute isolation and a slow death, their only hope is to send Diego back in time with the prayer that they can change the course of history.
Fourty-one years into the past, Diego manages to set in motion a chain of events that affect his and Isabel’s younger selves, as well as the brilliant Dr Matthew Hudson – but will it be enough to avoid the calamity that befell the Earth?
The vast majority of the novel is set in the past, following the characters as they navigate through a climate crisis and natural disasters that threaten to ravage the Earth. One plotline follows younger Isabel and Diego, reacquainted after years apart, dealing with the fallout from Isa’s previous marriage and her – frankly horrendous – ex-husband. The other follows Dr Matthew Hudson, who is essentially kidnapped by the government to look into the temporal anomalies caused by Diego’s time travel in the first place.
It took me a while to get into this novel, but I’m going to chalk that up to the fact that I don’t really do sci-fi. Given the choice, I’ll always go for fantasy (which is lowkey what I thought this book was, but that’s my bad for not reading properly), however, I think that Hive might have gone some way to change my mind on that because boy was I enjoying myself by the end.
I really fell in love with all the characters – particularly Matthew Hudson – and I feel like the author’s love for them really bleeds through into the writing. There’s a stand-out scene with Hudson’s niece, Cassandra, that had me grinning because fuck yes, what a badass. All of these characters felt like real people you might meet on the street, and I really appreciated that they felt well-rounded. (A note though – I cannot tell if Hudson is supposed to be British or Australian based on his speech patterns. As a brit, we do not say ‘crikey’ with that frequency.)
I very much enjoyed the start of each chapter letting us know where/how we were diverging from the original timeline. That information is what made the book, in my opinion – without it, we’d be in the dark about whether or not their plan had worked! There were a couple of reasonably big time jumps (a month or so), but I��m not particularly pressed about them as it made sense for the pacing of the story, especially when it’s about global disasters?
For a book about such a depressing topic – and genuinely, halfway through, I audibly went ‘Jesus, why am I reading this?’ – it’s heartfelt. The chapters with Matthew and his post-doc, Sam, in particular made me snort whilst I was reading, and I enjoyed the humanity with which the themes were explored. It’s a masterclass in the old adage of if you’re writing about big themes, you focus in on the details. The part where Diego has to drive past a mother and her child, whilst mumbling ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’? That’s how you show humanity.
I’d absolutely read the sequel, once it releases, but I’m so perplexed by the end of the book which shows Orton’s other works. There are three novels pointing…backwards? At this series? So I’m assuming they’re to do with this storyline, but perhaps in a different universe? I’m absolutely fascinated by the concept. Stay tuned.
April 28, 2025
I love books involving a bit of time-travel/parallel timelines, always enjoying the modern tv programmes like ‘Flash’, ‘Loki’ and ‘Legends of Tomorrow’. DL Orton’s “Madders of Time - Book One - Hive” follows a similar theme, to travel back in time, without disturbing the timelines but making a tiny change that alters the course of history. However, only one person can make the ‘jump’ to save humanity from those mistakes of the past - so what happens, when that person meets the younger version of the love of his life?
There are many thought provoking elements, such as the ethical implications of advanced technology in dystopian circumstances, which would make for lots of interesting debates among book clubs.
The layout of the chapters, giving a different emotional perspective as the narrators changed, together with the entries from the AI’s log, added intrigue and depth to the story and also made it easy to follow, since let’s be honest, following a parallel universe and time travelling isn’t a common occurrence! But let’s not forget to mention Lucky (the cat) and Tolstoy (the dog) who for me, were the main stars of the show and definitely used some of their nine lives.
As the author, (a self proclaimed time-machine mechanic) says in his preface - ‘whether you’re a seasoned time-traveller or a first-time adventurer, the multiverse is calling and the ride promises to be wild!’ - this book will entertain all readers, but what this book has left me with, is the need for more. I must follow this story and can’t wait for book 2…..and book 3…..and book 4!!
#Hive - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are many thought provoking elements, such as the ethical implications of advanced technology in dystopian circumstances, which would make for lots of interesting debates among book clubs.
The layout of the chapters, giving a different emotional perspective as the narrators changed, together with the entries from the AI’s log, added intrigue and depth to the story and also made it easy to follow, since let’s be honest, following a parallel universe and time travelling isn’t a common occurrence! But let’s not forget to mention Lucky (the cat) and Tolstoy (the dog) who for me, were the main stars of the show and definitely used some of their nine lives.
As the author, (a self proclaimed time-machine mechanic) says in his preface - ‘whether you’re a seasoned time-traveller or a first-time adventurer, the multiverse is calling and the ride promises to be wild!’ - this book will entertain all readers, but what this book has left me with, is the need for more. I must follow this story and can’t wait for book 2…..and book 3…..and book 4!!
#Hive - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 8, 2025
ARGH!!!!!
D.L. Orton wrote a trilogy a few years ago featuring Diego and Isabel which i loved and I had been waiting for the fourth book ever since I finished the third book in 2017. So when I saw this book, even though it seemed to be a completely new series I jumped at the chance to snag an ARC.
I have the memory of a gadfly at the best of times so expecting me to remember anything other than Diego and Isabel's names from nearly eight years ago is laughable. Nevertheless, I found it (relatively) easy to read this book cold. Diego and Isabel are the last living survivors in an Earth biodome, Diego's best friend Dave has recently committed suicide and their other friend Madders is now an AI. Isabel is dying of cancer so she devises a Hail Mary plan to send Diego back in time with the last of the biodome's energy to try to prevent the series of catastrophes which destroyed Earth and eventually led to humanity's almost complete extinction (Diego and Isabel being the last remnants). Hopefully, in time, the biodome's solar panels will recharge and re-activate Madden's AI.
Given the limitations of sending someone back in time/to an alternate reality and knowing what were the catalysts which led to almost total annihilation, can Diego turn the dial enough to change the future?
Before I wrote my review of this book I reread my review of the third book in the previous series and I think I expressed the fascinating yet confusing time lines very well. Despite my total lack of understanding of physics (my teacher actually had tears in her eyes when she found out I had passed my 'O' level) or the science of this series I loved every second and was so disappointed when it ended.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
D.L. Orton wrote a trilogy a few years ago featuring Diego and Isabel which i loved and I had been waiting for the fourth book ever since I finished the third book in 2017. So when I saw this book, even though it seemed to be a completely new series I jumped at the chance to snag an ARC.
I have the memory of a gadfly at the best of times so expecting me to remember anything other than Diego and Isabel's names from nearly eight years ago is laughable. Nevertheless, I found it (relatively) easy to read this book cold. Diego and Isabel are the last living survivors in an Earth biodome, Diego's best friend Dave has recently committed suicide and their other friend Madders is now an AI. Isabel is dying of cancer so she devises a Hail Mary plan to send Diego back in time with the last of the biodome's energy to try to prevent the series of catastrophes which destroyed Earth and eventually led to humanity's almost complete extinction (Diego and Isabel being the last remnants). Hopefully, in time, the biodome's solar panels will recharge and re-activate Madden's AI.
Given the limitations of sending someone back in time/to an alternate reality and knowing what were the catalysts which led to almost total annihilation, can Diego turn the dial enough to change the future?
Before I wrote my review of this book I reread my review of the third book in the previous series and I think I expressed the fascinating yet confusing time lines very well. Despite my total lack of understanding of physics (my teacher actually had tears in her eyes when she found out I had passed my 'O' level) or the science of this series I loved every second and was so disappointed when it ended.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
December 29, 2024
Hive is a thrilling time-traveling/doomsday/romantic adventure and I am so glad I went along for the ride. I’ve never read DL Orton's work before so I went into this not knowing what to expect. What I found is a solid and well crafted sci-fi story revolving around three compelling characters that I genuinely became invested in. The science fiction is great — complex enough to make one think but not so dense that it can’t be understood. The romance is well written and while it is a big part of the story, it’s far from the whole story. DL Orton does a beautiful job telling her unique tale and really took me through the whole range of human emotions from start to finish. I look forward to reading book two to see where the story takes these characters next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rocky Mountain Press and DL Orton for the e-ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley, Rocky Mountain Press and DL Orton for the e-ARC!
February 19, 2025
What if you had the power to travel back in time to prevent an unimaginable tragedy—would you get it right the first time? Or would it take multiple attempts to rewrite the outcome? D.L. Orton's Hive (Madders of Time) plunges into the psychological and ethical complexities of time travel, blending sci-fi intrigue with deeply human questions about love, sacrifice, and the cost of second chances.
A Brief Overview of the Plot
At the heart of Hive (Madders of Time) is older Diego, who is tasked with the impossible — traveling back through time to save the world from complete destruction and ensure his children survive. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Diego's mission is far more than just a science fiction quest; it's a harrowing exploration of how far one person is willing to go to change their reality. Alongside Diego's time-bending struggle, there’s an infusion of humor and warmth through the supporting characters, particularly Matthew Hudson, whose quick wit and playful banter with Sam provide much-needed levity in this high-stakes narrative.
Familiar Faces, Changed Dynamics
Following on from Orton’s earlier works, Hive reintroduces familiar figures like Diego and Isabel.
While these two central characters tug at the threads of continuity from the earlier stories, a noticeable shift in their personalities left me reflecting on their growth—or, in Diego’s case, the lack thereof. Diego feels more of a pushover compared to the assertiveness he exhibited in previous installments. Similarly, Isabel has changed into an ‘I am right no matter what. Like it or hit the highway’ person. Maybe these fifteen years with Dave jaded her. I was not a fan of the core changes in Isabel and Diego.
In this edition, Isabel’s life’s work is to create an artificial honeybees, Superdrones. As a person who has owned honeybees in the past, I know this is not a good idea. I look forward to the future book proving me right. What is that old saying, “Never fool with mother nature”?
That said, Hive introduces a surprisingly delightful new dynamic through Matthew Hudson. His sharp, laugh-out-loud banter with Sam and touching interactions with his niece, Cassie, truly shine as some of the book’s finest moments. Hudson adds a human depth that feels essential against the intense backdrop of time travel and danger. I love the references to older movies.
Key Themes
Orton dives headfirst into the moral dilemmas of time travel. Questions like, "Should you only try once to prevent catastrophe? What happens when things go wrong, and how far is too far?" ripple through the narrative. It’s a poignant and thought-provoking lens through which to view Diego's attempts, particularly when one considers the emotional toll that failure (and retrying) exacts on him.
The human cost of meddling with time is palpable throughout, bringing up debates about responsibility, destiny, and sacrifice. What does it mean to insert yourself into the past repeatedly, knowing the consequences of your actions may ripple far beyond just you?
A New Beginning for the Series
While Hive functions as the launchpad for a new chapter in the Madders of Time series, it carries a sense of nostalgia for returning fans. For newcomers, there are just enough breadcrumbs explaining the backstory, though it’s a richer experience if you’ve read Orton’s earlier books.
The sci-fi elements, though compelling, don’t overshadow the emotional heartbeat of the story. Yes, time travel is central, but it’s the relationships—fractured, humorous, fleeting, and enduring—that anchor the narrative. This balance of technical intrigue and human vulnerability is where Orton truly excels.
Final Thoughts
Hive (Madders of Time) is an ambitious and emotional entry into the time-travel storytelling niche.
The characters of Diego and Isabel frustrated me because I had read the first three previous books. A new reader may love the modern characters where Isabel seemed to know it all (maybe Dave was right about her in that respect) and Diego was just a wimpy, little background character, afraid to say anything to Isabel that would upset her. I miss the old Diego who was the hero. I wanted their future to turn out just a little differently. It was basically the same story.
The dynamic additions of Matthew Hudson and his interactions with Sam, Cassie, and all the other characters in the Colorado military facility fill some of that gap with plenty of Orton’s characteristically funny nicknames for everyone. You know, the names we only say in our head now, because everyone takes themselves so seriously. The humor was much appreciated and kept me coming back for more.
If you’re a fan of time-travel stories, rich relationships, and probing philosophical questions, this book will tick all those boxes. It sets the stage for bigger things to come (I hope) and leaves just enough unanswered questions that you’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment.
My biggest question to Orton is where is the old man with the red sneakers when you need him?
Thank you to Netgalley and Rocky Mountain Press for the free copy of the book. All opinions are proudly my own. I was born with that Right.
A Brief Overview of the Plot
At the heart of Hive (Madders of Time) is older Diego, who is tasked with the impossible — traveling back through time to save the world from complete destruction and ensure his children survive. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Diego's mission is far more than just a science fiction quest; it's a harrowing exploration of how far one person is willing to go to change their reality. Alongside Diego's time-bending struggle, there’s an infusion of humor and warmth through the supporting characters, particularly Matthew Hudson, whose quick wit and playful banter with Sam provide much-needed levity in this high-stakes narrative.
Familiar Faces, Changed Dynamics
Following on from Orton’s earlier works, Hive reintroduces familiar figures like Diego and Isabel.
While these two central characters tug at the threads of continuity from the earlier stories, a noticeable shift in their personalities left me reflecting on their growth—or, in Diego’s case, the lack thereof. Diego feels more of a pushover compared to the assertiveness he exhibited in previous installments. Similarly, Isabel has changed into an ‘I am right no matter what. Like it or hit the highway’ person. Maybe these fifteen years with Dave jaded her. I was not a fan of the core changes in Isabel and Diego.
In this edition, Isabel’s life’s work is to create an artificial honeybees, Superdrones. As a person who has owned honeybees in the past, I know this is not a good idea. I look forward to the future book proving me right. What is that old saying, “Never fool with mother nature”?
That said, Hive introduces a surprisingly delightful new dynamic through Matthew Hudson. His sharp, laugh-out-loud banter with Sam and touching interactions with his niece, Cassie, truly shine as some of the book’s finest moments. Hudson adds a human depth that feels essential against the intense backdrop of time travel and danger. I love the references to older movies.
Key Themes
Orton dives headfirst into the moral dilemmas of time travel. Questions like, "Should you only try once to prevent catastrophe? What happens when things go wrong, and how far is too far?" ripple through the narrative. It’s a poignant and thought-provoking lens through which to view Diego's attempts, particularly when one considers the emotional toll that failure (and retrying) exacts on him.
The human cost of meddling with time is palpable throughout, bringing up debates about responsibility, destiny, and sacrifice. What does it mean to insert yourself into the past repeatedly, knowing the consequences of your actions may ripple far beyond just you?
A New Beginning for the Series
While Hive functions as the launchpad for a new chapter in the Madders of Time series, it carries a sense of nostalgia for returning fans. For newcomers, there are just enough breadcrumbs explaining the backstory, though it’s a richer experience if you’ve read Orton’s earlier books.
The sci-fi elements, though compelling, don’t overshadow the emotional heartbeat of the story. Yes, time travel is central, but it’s the relationships—fractured, humorous, fleeting, and enduring—that anchor the narrative. This balance of technical intrigue and human vulnerability is where Orton truly excels.
Final Thoughts
Hive (Madders of Time) is an ambitious and emotional entry into the time-travel storytelling niche.
The characters of Diego and Isabel frustrated me because I had read the first three previous books. A new reader may love the modern characters where Isabel seemed to know it all (maybe Dave was right about her in that respect) and Diego was just a wimpy, little background character, afraid to say anything to Isabel that would upset her. I miss the old Diego who was the hero. I wanted their future to turn out just a little differently. It was basically the same story.
The dynamic additions of Matthew Hudson and his interactions with Sam, Cassie, and all the other characters in the Colorado military facility fill some of that gap with plenty of Orton’s characteristically funny nicknames for everyone. You know, the names we only say in our head now, because everyone takes themselves so seriously. The humor was much appreciated and kept me coming back for more.
If you’re a fan of time-travel stories, rich relationships, and probing philosophical questions, this book will tick all those boxes. It sets the stage for bigger things to come (I hope) and leaves just enough unanswered questions that you’ll be eagerly anticipating the next installment.
My biggest question to Orton is where is the old man with the red sneakers when you need him?
Thank you to Netgalley and Rocky Mountain Press for the free copy of the book. All opinions are proudly my own. I was born with that Right.
May 9, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
4⭐ for Hive by D.L. Orton
I stepped out of my usual genre for this one, and I actually quite enjoyed it! I read it as a standalone, though some of the characters are introduced in another series from what I've gathered, but it didn't take away from my understanding.
Time-travel and its repercussions are the focal point of the story, with a nice side of second chance romance that kept the romance girlie in me satisfied. The book does a good job of setting up this series, although the cliffhanger at the end frustrated me a bit because we're left with so many questions.
Intriguing, thought-provoking and easy to follow even if you're not a science geek (talking about myself here!), I enjoyed the adventure! If you were a fan of the TV series Timeless, I feel like you'd enjoy this book!
Thank you to The Write Reads and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
4⭐ for Hive by D.L. Orton
I stepped out of my usual genre for this one, and I actually quite enjoyed it! I read it as a standalone, though some of the characters are introduced in another series from what I've gathered, but it didn't take away from my understanding.
Time-travel and its repercussions are the focal point of the story, with a nice side of second chance romance that kept the romance girlie in me satisfied. The book does a good job of setting up this series, although the cliffhanger at the end frustrated me a bit because we're left with so many questions.
Intriguing, thought-provoking and easy to follow even if you're not a science geek (talking about myself here!), I enjoyed the adventure! If you were a fan of the TV series Timeless, I feel like you'd enjoy this book!
Thank you to The Write Reads and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
May 13, 2025
This book is a gem! Set in a future that is probably nearer than we want to imagine, Isabel and Diego are the last survivors of a dying Earth. Isabel is dying of cancer and they are in a bio dome surrounded by deadly micro drones that are constantly trying to find a way in to attack them. As a last resort, Diego is sent back in time via a space time bridge to endeavour to rewrite history.
Written in the form of a Log kept by the AI assistant, Madders, we read about Isabel, Diego and Matthew Hudson (a mechanical engineer, who designed the structure of the dome).
Containing all the elements of a fantastic first in a series, there are engaging characters, just enough scientific detail in order to interest instead of deter the reader, a fast paced story and twist after twist.
I very much look forward to reading the next in the series.
Written in the form of a Log kept by the AI assistant, Madders, we read about Isabel, Diego and Matthew Hudson (a mechanical engineer, who designed the structure of the dome).
Containing all the elements of a fantastic first in a series, there are engaging characters, just enough scientific detail in order to interest instead of deter the reader, a fast paced story and twist after twist.
I very much look forward to reading the next in the series.
January 18, 2025
4.5 / 5
Had such a fun time reading this book, and was rooting for / invested in each of the characters POV’s. There were plenty of times that I was laughing out loud, and stressed out for Madders, Diego and Isabel. I’m curious to see how big of an impact the bees will have in the next book especially the way this one ended. There are still a few questions left unanswered but I guess I will have to pick up the next book when it comes out. The book itself started out slow, but picked up pretty quickly and each chapter kept the plot progressing forward and ramped up nicely at the end. Any level of sci-fi reader could enjoy this, I just wish some of the plans that the scientists were working on were explained a little more at the end, but that didn’t hinder my reading enjoyment.
Has elements of time travel, government secrets, black holes / wormholes and different timelines.
Trigger warnings: miscarriages
Thank you to NetGally and Rocky Mountain Press for this ARC.
Had such a fun time reading this book, and was rooting for / invested in each of the characters POV’s. There were plenty of times that I was laughing out loud, and stressed out for Madders, Diego and Isabel. I’m curious to see how big of an impact the bees will have in the next book especially the way this one ended. There are still a few questions left unanswered but I guess I will have to pick up the next book when it comes out. The book itself started out slow, but picked up pretty quickly and each chapter kept the plot progressing forward and ramped up nicely at the end. Any level of sci-fi reader could enjoy this, I just wish some of the plans that the scientists were working on were explained a little more at the end, but that didn’t hinder my reading enjoyment.
Has elements of time travel, government secrets, black holes / wormholes and different timelines.
Trigger warnings: miscarriages
Thank you to NetGally and Rocky Mountain Press for this ARC.
May 19, 2025
I was immediately gripped by the characters in this book and was so invested in their stories, especially when they all became interlinked.
It didn’t take me long to get to grips with the premise of the story and the time travelling element as the author explains it so easily so you become immersed in this world.
The story is told from three perspectives (Isabelle, Diego & Matthew) plus a log from an AI called Madders.
You’ll fall in love with the cleverness of all three characters as they fight to change humanity and you’ll smile at Matthew and his quirky ways.
The love story between Isabelle & Diego is one I won’t forget in a hurry , it had me shouting out loud at some points during the book.
I’m so excited for the next book in this series and I’m so glad I’ve found this fantastic author.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep you reading page after page then buy this one.
It didn’t take me long to get to grips with the premise of the story and the time travelling element as the author explains it so easily so you become immersed in this world.
The story is told from three perspectives (Isabelle, Diego & Matthew) plus a log from an AI called Madders.
You’ll fall in love with the cleverness of all three characters as they fight to change humanity and you’ll smile at Matthew and his quirky ways.
The love story between Isabelle & Diego is one I won’t forget in a hurry , it had me shouting out loud at some points during the book.
I’m so excited for the next book in this series and I’m so glad I’ve found this fantastic author.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep you reading page after page then buy this one.
December 15, 2024
◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ hive (madders of time #1).
ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4/5 🐝
thank you to netgalley and rocky mountain press for this arc! all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
as an avid fan of dystopian sci-fi, this book spoke to me the moment i locked eyes with that gorgeous cover. <3 while this book was a bit too technical for me, and was slightly confusing in the beginning, it turned out to be such a page-turner!! can’t wait for the next book!
ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4/5 🐝
thank you to netgalley and rocky mountain press for this arc! all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
as an avid fan of dystopian sci-fi, this book spoke to me the moment i locked eyes with that gorgeous cover. <3 while this book was a bit too technical for me, and was slightly confusing in the beginning, it turned out to be such a page-turner!! can’t wait for the next book!
February 26, 2025
Going into “Hive”, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read a couple of D.L. Orton’s books before and remember enjoying them, so I was excited to leap in, and I was not disappointed!
One of the main reasons I absolutely loved “Hive” was the sweet, pure love story that is set in the realistic world Orton has created. Sometimes it’s hard to find a couple like Diego and Isabel in books. These two have made mistakes, but that doesn’t change how they feel about one another and it never had even after so many years of not seeing one another. Even when Isabel becomes hurt and Diego volunteers to help her, he never takes advantage of the situation, and he makes her feel cared for. I also love how pure and honest they are with each other. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated; just honesty and love. Reading from both perspectives gives the reader reassurance that their love is true and wholesome.
Within the other chapters, the reader follows Professor Matthew Hudson and I simply adore his character. He’s scientific, knowledgeable, cares for his niece like his own daughter, and has a lovable sense of dry humor. I loved these chapters where we meet other characters (like Sam and Cassie, Matt’s niece) who add not only a level intelligence to the text (so does Isabel!), but also a balance of lightness and severity of the situation they are in. Time travel and wormholes are not a joking matter, but they personalities were so fun and entertaining to read.
The pacing of the plot was excellent. I never found myself bored. I actually was sad to finish reading because I didn’t want to leave Orton’s world. The time travel and the set up to a dystopian world was perfect! The beginning chapter lured me in to what the future would look like and the time travel back to the past was captivating to find out where it all begin.
I simply cannot wait for the next installment of the “Madders of Time” series!
Orton is a talented author with the ability to create characters you care about, a world where every single aspect is well-thought-out and captivating, and themes that are so relatable to our world today that I found it all easy to connect with and wanted more. I will obviously rate “Hive” a 5 out of 5 stars!
My opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Rocky Mountain Press), and the author via a Goodreads giveaway for giving me the opportunity to read “Hive”.
One of the main reasons I absolutely loved “Hive” was the sweet, pure love story that is set in the realistic world Orton has created. Sometimes it’s hard to find a couple like Diego and Isabel in books. These two have made mistakes, but that doesn’t change how they feel about one another and it never had even after so many years of not seeing one another. Even when Isabel becomes hurt and Diego volunteers to help her, he never takes advantage of the situation, and he makes her feel cared for. I also love how pure and honest they are with each other. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated; just honesty and love. Reading from both perspectives gives the reader reassurance that their love is true and wholesome.
Within the other chapters, the reader follows Professor Matthew Hudson and I simply adore his character. He’s scientific, knowledgeable, cares for his niece like his own daughter, and has a lovable sense of dry humor. I loved these chapters where we meet other characters (like Sam and Cassie, Matt’s niece) who add not only a level intelligence to the text (so does Isabel!), but also a balance of lightness and severity of the situation they are in. Time travel and wormholes are not a joking matter, but they personalities were so fun and entertaining to read.
The pacing of the plot was excellent. I never found myself bored. I actually was sad to finish reading because I didn’t want to leave Orton’s world. The time travel and the set up to a dystopian world was perfect! The beginning chapter lured me in to what the future would look like and the time travel back to the past was captivating to find out where it all begin.
I simply cannot wait for the next installment of the “Madders of Time” series!
Orton is a talented author with the ability to create characters you care about, a world where every single aspect is well-thought-out and captivating, and themes that are so relatable to our world today that I found it all easy to connect with and wanted more. I will obviously rate “Hive” a 5 out of 5 stars!
My opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Rocky Mountain Press), and the author via a Goodreads giveaway for giving me the opportunity to read “Hive”.
June 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s
An incredible story crafted in a mind-bending multiverse that thrills, intrigues, and mystifies! It’s terrifying, hopeful, joyful, and so much in between, as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The superb storytelling had me gripped throughout. What an opening chapter! I loved the way the story unravelled, the normal everyday starkly contrasting with the phenomenal events unfolding. I found it a uniquely, immersive reading experience as it seamlessly shifts from each character’s perspective; it’s curious, chaotic, compelling as the complex threads converge with infinite possibilities!
I felt the connection between Isabel and Diego, their journey is filled with emotion. Their love, sacrifice, regret, resilience, and courage are tangible as they implement extreme measures. The human element to the story was particularly fascinating as love and friendship blossom in the darkest of times; Orton perfectly captures the strength of the human spirit as hope endures.
Matt becomes entangled in a top secret mission as he tries to find his niece is a world that’s no longer recognisable. I enjoyed his interactions with Picasso and Sam as he tries to figure out what’s happening and how it can be stopped. The scientific elements made for an enjoyable and enlightening read, it was skilfully written and really gets you thinking,
As the story moves forward, misuse of technology and ulterior motives set into motion a destructive chain of events. I loved how the characters could traverse through time and the uncertainty of any small change creating a butterfly effect no one anticipated. It was an entertaining and suspenseful journey as this high-stakes adventure plays out, can they work out what’s going on in time?
If you enjoy a thought-provoking, dystopian read with heart that takes you on a wild adventure that doesn’t let up, add this to your TBR asap! I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
With thanks to @The_WriteReads and @DLOrton for my copy and place on the Tour.
An incredible story crafted in a mind-bending multiverse that thrills, intrigues, and mystifies! It’s terrifying, hopeful, joyful, and so much in between, as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
The superb storytelling had me gripped throughout. What an opening chapter! I loved the way the story unravelled, the normal everyday starkly contrasting with the phenomenal events unfolding. I found it a uniquely, immersive reading experience as it seamlessly shifts from each character’s perspective; it’s curious, chaotic, compelling as the complex threads converge with infinite possibilities!
I felt the connection between Isabel and Diego, their journey is filled with emotion. Their love, sacrifice, regret, resilience, and courage are tangible as they implement extreme measures. The human element to the story was particularly fascinating as love and friendship blossom in the darkest of times; Orton perfectly captures the strength of the human spirit as hope endures.
Matt becomes entangled in a top secret mission as he tries to find his niece is a world that’s no longer recognisable. I enjoyed his interactions with Picasso and Sam as he tries to figure out what’s happening and how it can be stopped. The scientific elements made for an enjoyable and enlightening read, it was skilfully written and really gets you thinking,
As the story moves forward, misuse of technology and ulterior motives set into motion a destructive chain of events. I loved how the characters could traverse through time and the uncertainty of any small change creating a butterfly effect no one anticipated. It was an entertaining and suspenseful journey as this high-stakes adventure plays out, can they work out what’s going on in time?
If you enjoy a thought-provoking, dystopian read with heart that takes you on a wild adventure that doesn’t let up, add this to your TBR asap! I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
With thanks to @The_WriteReads and @DLOrton for my copy and place on the Tour.
June 1, 2025
Note: Only read to 17%.
I was really enjoying this lively sci fi in a failed-experiment future, with some time travel, and a surprisingly catching energy.
But… then the gay drop at 17%. Movin’ on. 🪂
-Desiree Reads
May 31, 2025
I was really enjoying this lively sci fi in a failed-experiment future, with some time travel, and a surprisingly catching energy.
But… then the gay drop at 17%. Movin’ on. 🪂
-Desiree Reads
May 31, 2025
May 26, 2025
Blurb
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
Review
Who dosen’t love a good Science Fiction book, and especially one that focuses on time travel (despite the thought worms that it sets up in your brain, and the way it ties these in knots!). Given this I jumped at the opportunity of reading and reviewing this book!
At first I was a tad confused as the scene was set but once I got into the rhythm of the book, I quickly worked out the alternate timelines and the story the book was telling. The book is told from three different perspectives and I feel this really only added to the book, and you quickly ascertained their thoughts and feelings.
How can you beat a book that attempts to go back in time to save humanity, what greater purpose could there be. However, tied within this is a love story across time between Isabelle and Diego, and you quickly come to care passionately about these characters and wonder how their story will resolve itself.
It’s also very apt at this time with an AI character too, and overall this book covers a number of key themes and given this would be great for a group read. The book only builds pace and tension as it progresses and has you totally hooked and wanting to read on. I couldn’t put this book down in the last section of the book and the author played with every emotion at times leaving me a mess! If anything it was a touch too pacy at the end and came to its conclusion all too quickly. Now I urgently need the second book in the series as I must know what happens next!
I strongly recommend this book to everyone who loves high quality science fiction, and also everyone who loves a good love story that is on a slow burn fuse. Put simply get hold of this five star book and give it a read. It is my first book by this author but I will now be searching out her back catalogue.
Book Info
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Number of Pages: 350 Pages
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9...
Amazon: https://a.co/d/bnN8PN1 (Canada) https://a.co/d/7AiywJA (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/1P5EFIe (UK)
About the Author
The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, D. L. ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).
When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?
In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world's collapse.
When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he's forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.
Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time - Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.
Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.
The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?
Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.
Review
Who dosen’t love a good Science Fiction book, and especially one that focuses on time travel (despite the thought worms that it sets up in your brain, and the way it ties these in knots!). Given this I jumped at the opportunity of reading and reviewing this book!
At first I was a tad confused as the scene was set but once I got into the rhythm of the book, I quickly worked out the alternate timelines and the story the book was telling. The book is told from three different perspectives and I feel this really only added to the book, and you quickly ascertained their thoughts and feelings.
How can you beat a book that attempts to go back in time to save humanity, what greater purpose could there be. However, tied within this is a love story across time between Isabelle and Diego, and you quickly come to care passionately about these characters and wonder how their story will resolve itself.
It’s also very apt at this time with an AI character too, and overall this book covers a number of key themes and given this would be great for a group read. The book only builds pace and tension as it progresses and has you totally hooked and wanting to read on. I couldn’t put this book down in the last section of the book and the author played with every emotion at times leaving me a mess! If anything it was a touch too pacy at the end and came to its conclusion all too quickly. Now I urgently need the second book in the series as I must know what happens next!
I strongly recommend this book to everyone who loves high quality science fiction, and also everyone who loves a good love story that is on a slow burn fuse. Put simply get hold of this five star book and give it a read. It is my first book by this author but I will now be searching out her back catalogue.
Book Info
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Category: Adult
Number of Pages: 350 Pages
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/9...
Amazon: https://a.co/d/bnN8PN1 (Canada) https://a.co/d/7AiywJA (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/1P5EFIe (UK)
About the Author
The BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, D. L. ORTON, lives in the foothills of Colorado where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. Her future plans include completing the books in the BETWEEN TWO EVILS series followed by an extended vacation on a remote tropical island (with a Starbucks).
When she’s not writing, playing tennis, or helping with algebra, she’s building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University’s Writers Workshop and a past editor of “Top of the Western Staircase,” a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica.com, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Her debut novel, CROSSING IN TIME, has won numerous literary awards including an Indie Book Award and a Publishers Weekly Starred Review. It was also selected as one of only 12 Great Indie Stars by BookLife’s Prize in Fiction.
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